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D 639 

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P287 

Copy 1 .ETIN NO. 23 FEBRUARY, J9J7 

THE AMERICAN RIGHTS LEAGUE 

For Upholding the Doty of the Reptfblic 
in International Relations 

2 WEST 45th street, NEW YORK 



NO FALSE PEACE 

A WARNING BY AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS 

The following declaration, signed by American religious leaders, was 
issued last week. It is one of the notable documents of the World War. 
There is not space here to print the names of all the signers. We have 
selected from the list certain representative names. The names not given 
are likewise distinguished and representative of the widespread support 
this document has received. — The Editors. 

When war drenches Europe in blood, it is natural that we Ameri- 
cans shoiild shudder at the sight. To call upon the combatants to 
stop the carnage is an impulse so strong that it even tends to displace 
judgment and distort values. We are apt to forget, at any rate for 
the time being, that there are conditions under which the mere 
stopping of warfare may bring a curse instead of a blessing. We 
need to be reminded that peace is the triumph of righteousness and 
not the mere sheathing of the sword. To clamor for an ending of 
the present war without insuring the vindication of truth, justice, 
and honor is not to seek peace but to sow disaster. 

Because it is so easy to lose sight of these essential principles, 
we, the imdersigned, view with some concern the organized and de- 
liberate effort now being made so to stampede Christian sentiment 
as to create a public opinion bHndly favorable to stopping hostilities 
without adequate consideration of the issues which the war involves. 

We are Christians, and, as such, deem that truth and righteous- 
ness are to be maintained inviolate, even at the sacrifice of physical 
life. We are citizens of the United States, and, as such, are con- 
scious of the solemn responsibilities of our Christian citizenship. 

Monoarapii 



We accordingly venture to direct the attention of oiir fellow Chris-' 
tians to a few of the vital issues which are making their mute appeal 
for final decision : 

The ravage of Belgium and the enslavement of her people: was 
it right or wrong? 

The massacre of a million Armenians: was it a permissible pre- 
caution or an impardonable crime? 

The desolation of Servia and Poland : was this a regrettable neces- 
sity or a frightful injustice? 

The destruction of life through the sinking of the Lusitania and 
of other merchant ships: was this an ordinary incident of warfare 
or was it deUberate and premeditated murder? 

The starvation of Jews and Syrians in the Holy Land: is this 
an accident of economics or a violation of the laws of God and man? 

The attempt to array Moslems against Christians in a "Holy 
War" : was it a laudable act of imperial statesmanship or was it the 
treachery of a Christian monarch? 

The intimidation of small nations and the violation of inter- 
national agreements: are these things excusable under provocation 
or damnable imder all circumstances? 

In the presence of these pending and as yet imsettled issues we 
feel impelled to warn our brethren against those who cry "Peace, 
peace," when there is no peace. The just God, who withheld not 
his own Son from the cross, would not look with favor upon a people 
who put their fear of pain and death, their dread of suffering and 
loss, their concern for comfort and ease, above the holy claims of 
righteousness and justice and freedom and mercy and truth. Much 
as we mourn the blood shed in Europe, we lament even more that 
supineness of spirit, that indifference to spiritual values, which 
would let mere physical safety take precedence of loyalty to truth 
and duty. The memory of all the saints and martyrs cries out 
against such backsliding of mankind. Sad is our lot if we have for- 
gotten how to die for a holy cause. 

We solemnly declare to you our conviction that the question 
of all questions for our immediate consideration is this: Shall the 
ancient Christian inheritance of loyalty to great and divine ideals be 
replaced by considerations of mere expediency? 

(Rev.) Joseph F. Berry, Bishop Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Philadelphia. 

Ssehaagt 
Univ. of Midi. 

MAY i i 1933 



(Rev.) Newell Dwight Hillis, Pastor Plymouth (Congrega- 
tional) Church, Brooklyn. 

(Rev.) William C. Bitting, Pastor Second Baptist Church, 
St. Louis. 

(Rev.) George A. Gordon, Pastor Old South (Congrega- 
tional) Church, Boston. 

(Rev.) Albert E. Dunning, Former Editor of the "Congre- 
gationaHst, " Boston. 

(Rev.) Cornelius H. Patton, Corresponding Secretary Ameri- 
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 

(Rev.) Newman Smyth, Congregationalist, New Haven, Conn. 

(Rev.) Lyman Abbott, Editor-in-Chief of " The Outlook." 

George Wharton Pepper, Lawyer, Protestant EpiscopaHan 
Philadelphia. 

(Rev.) John Grier Hibben, President of Princeton Uni- 
versity. 

Charles J. Bonaparte, ex-Attomey-General, Roman Catho- 
lic, Baltimore. 

Winston Churchill, author, Cornish, N. H. 

(Rev.) Henry C. King, President of Oberlin College. 

GiFFORD Pinchot, Forcster, Author, Protestant Episcopalian, 
Milford, Pa. 

(Rt. Rev.) William Lawrence, Protestant Episcopal Bishop 
of Massachusetts. 

(Rev.) William A. Sunday, EvangeUst. 

(Rev.) Harry E. Fosdick, Union Theological Seminary. 

(Rev.) Charles R. Brown, Dean of Yale School of ReHgion. 

William R. Moody, Head of Northfield Schools, Editor of 
"Record of Christian Work." 

(Rev.) Walter Laidlaw, Secretary of Federation of Churches, 
New York. 

(Rev.) Henry Stimson, President .Congregational Board of 
Ministerial Relief. 



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020 934 969 3 

(Rt. Rev.) Charles H. Brent, Protestant iipiscopai Dibiiup 
of the Philippine Islands. 

(Rev.) Robert F. Coyle, formerly Moderator Presbyterian 
General Assembly. 

AND SOME FORTY OTHERS 

Geo. Haven Putnam, Prest. 

Everett V. Abbot, Chairman Exec. Comm. 

William Emerson, Secy. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



020 934 969 3 f 



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